DC Officially Debuts Absolute Redesign Of An Iconic Justice League Hero

A new iconic DC Comics hero joins the Absolute Universe courtesy of the Flash. A significant segment of DC's character roster is in dire need of a popularity boost. Many Justice Society pioneer heroes like Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Ted Grant, and Rex Tyler have deeply compelling mythologies that serve as the bedrock of legacy storytelling in the DC Universe, yet they are usually relegated to the sidelines. Similarly, old-school properties like the supernatural protector the Spectre, the dimension-hopping Challengers of the Unknown, and the mystical occultist Doctor Fate suffer from a lack of sustained, high-profile appearances.

DC’s Absolute Universe has served as an aggressive catalyst for some characters' popularity. In Absolute Superman, Batman's centuries-old nemesis Ra's al Ghul is reimagined as Kal-El's corporate archenemy. In Absolute Flash, Heatwave moves far beyond his traditional fire-themed weapons to become a tragic lava monster. Meanwhile, Absolute Wonder Woman takes the classic, villainous sorceress Circe and brilliantly subverts her mythology by making her Diana's underworld maternal figure.

The Absolute Universe shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. All the opposite, recent additions like the slave-born King Shazam, the dread-inducing Scarecrow, and the mech-suit-wearing squad of Absolute Robins only emphasize the dark appeal of Darkseid's dystopian universe. Absolute Flash subtly keeps this trend going with the debut of a couple more character reinventions.

DC Introduces Absolute Atom, Ray Palmer

Absolute Flash #15; Written By Jeff Lemire; Art By Nick Robles And Adriano Lucas

The mystery surrounding Barry Allen and the Still Point gets even more complicated with the brief arrival of Wally West's future self. Before present-day Wally gets the chance to analyze the consequences any further, Linda Park provides him with key information about STAR Labs. Linda discovered STAR Labs' plans to "change the world" and the involvement of scientist Ray Palmer, who also began working for Lazarus. So far, the Absolute Universe's Ray Palmer resembles his prime-universe self, with the only distinction being his apparent death one year before Absolute Flash #15.

The biggest reveal about Ray Palmer's existence in the Absolute Universe is his attempt to destroy Barry Allen and Eleanor Thawne's work, not because Absolute Atom is a villain, but because he discovered the Still Point houses dangerous dark energy, specifically a "dark particle" that could spell doom for the world. Wally learns this information from a hologram of Ray Palmer himself wearing his Absolute Atom suit, which resembles Barry Allen and Wally West's Flash costumes in this universe. Considering his traditional powers, Palmer may have discovered the dark particle by shrinking, not by tapping directly into the Still Point.

Absolute Flash Also Teases Absolute Cyborg

Silas Stone Is Looking For Victor Stone

Linda Park finds little information about Sam Scudder, which Linda and Wally ignore is the Flash rogue Mirror Master in most other timelines of the DC multiverse. However, she does learn that Silas Stone acquired Star Labs, and that he's currently working out of "their old offices in Detroit." Later on, the Ray Palmer hologram Wally West finds is directed to Silas. After explaining his discovery of the dark particle and asking Silas to destroy his lab, Palmer ends his message by saying he hopes Silas finds Victor.

Absolute Cyborg may be one of the next iconic DC characters to join the Absolute Universe. Recently, Absolute Green Arrow received something of a warm welcome with record-breaking sales for the Absolute line, surpassing Absolute Batman himself. Building on this unprecedented success, DC Comics might fast-track the introduction of not only Cyborg, but also other Teen Titans like Raven and Beast Boy, as well as missing DC icons like Aquaman, Supergirl, and Plastic Man.

What do you think the dark particle Absolute Atom discovered really is?

Absolute Flash #15 is now available from DC Comics.